Antonyms for take wing

Grammar : Verb

Spell : wing

Phonetic Transcription : wɪŋ

Definition of take wing

Origin : late 12c., wenge, from Old Norse vængr "wing of a bird, aisle, etc." (cf. Danish and Swedish vinge "wing"), of unknown origin, perhaps from a Proto-Germanic *we-ingjaz and ultimately from PIE root *we- "blow" (cf. Old English wawan "to blow;" see wind (n.)). Replaced Old English feðra (plural) "wings" (see feather). The meaning "either of two divisions of a political party, army, etc." is first recorded c.1400; theatrical sense is from 1790.
Verbal phrase wing it (1885) is from theatrical slang sense of an actor learning his lines in the wings before going onstage, or else not learning them at all and being fed by a prompter in the wings. The verb to wing "shoot a bird in the wing" is from 1802. The slang sense of to earn (one's) wings is 1940s, from the wing-shaped badges awarded to air cadets on graduation. To be under (someone's) wing "protected by (someone)" is recorded from early 13c. Phrase on a wing and a prayer is title of a 1943 song about landing a damaged aircraft.

As in fly : verb take to the air, usually employing wings
As in hasten : verb speed something; hurry

Example sentences :

He had poised himself upon the top of the hill like a bird about to take wing.
Extract from : « Chatterbox, 1906 » by Various

Are they afraid to see me, that they all take wing as soon as I appear?
Extract from : « Ten Years Later » by Alexandre Dumas, Pere

Just as I reached the rocks, I saw a covey apparently about to take wing.
Extract from : « In the Wilds of Africa » by W.H.G. Kingston

This letter, begun in Edinburgh, is to take wing from Abbotsford.
Extract from : « Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, Volume 4 (of 10) » by John Gibson Lockhart.

At the sound of that laugh Esther's fears seemed to take wing.
Extract from : « Esther's Charge » by Evelyn Everett-Green

So she knew that, since the natives were non-alate, she was not to take wing on Earth.
Extract from : « Helpfully Yours » by Evelyn E. Smith

The summer is fledged; he will take wing before we realise it.
Extract from : « The Wings of Icarus » by Laurence Alma Tadema

Every moment I expected the flock to take wing, but they lingered.
Extract from : « The Killer » by Stewart Edward White

This sky above us seems so high up, I feel as if I could take wing and fly!
Extract from : « The Underground City » by Jules Verne

When disturbed, they take wing, and hastily quit their abodes.
Extract from : « Jack in the Forecastle » by John Sherburne Sleeper

Synonyms for take wing

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019